It was a hazy, hot and humid day outside, but everything was cool inside as we opened the doors to the public for the first time.
Good sized crowds gathered at each of the three official openings. Nearly 20 members of the public had the opportunity to share in the ribbon cutting, including some children and adults, local politicians, volunteers, and Judy, one of our business neighbours, whose telephone line we had cut more than once. It was only fitting that she was asked to cut our ribbon.
Anyone who likes photos would understand how hard it was for people to be dragged away from the touch screens. We have such interesting photos! Among my favourites—a photo of two young girls, early 20th century, hair bows and fancy skirts, one pushing the other in a kind of bike-buggy. Or the one of a woman holding one giNORMous puff ball mushroom. At first glance it looks like a supersized pizza dough ball. There's one photo of a group of the "Bell girls," local bell telephone operators. People loved recognizing some of the guys in the deer hunt photo, too.
Photos of some of our more than 100 volunteers were on the walls, as well as the first part of our first exhibit, "From This to That- Building the Bank," throughout the Heritage Hall, and in the Foto Stable.
In August 2009, we held a Mystery Photo Car Tour Photo Contest and the winning photos were (finally!) unveiled. We've been so lucky to have really great amateur photographers help us out. All the photos on this site, along with all the photos in the exhibit, have been taken by amateurs.
Updstairs, in the Tourist Salon, visitors had fun aiming their souvenir laser lights at the CAR Wall Map, showing where they live, then placing a pin on a paper map. Lots of people from the immediate area and quite a number from a distance out of town! So great to see. Kids loved figuring out how to get to their place and showed each other where they live. 
It seems everyone's favourite spot is The Cookery. Everyone's first word is WOW. (Some people want to move in immediately; others make a mental note to re-design their own kitchen.) We can hardly wait to start our programming in the fall!
And, so, The Bank is now open, with limited hours for the rest of the summer. Thanks and a big shout out to the 15 volunteers who came to help show people around and answer questions.
